How to Safely Update my WordPress Website

ABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTEXT.

Many WordPress websites that are hacked into are as a result of their WordPress plugins, theme or core is outdated. Developers from all around the world are actively involved in the maintenance of WordPress. They locate, and get rid of bugs, put in new features, and regularly search for security weaknesses. The changes they make are released in a more recent version of WordPress.

Minute changes are updated automatically by WordPress itself, but the big ones will need to be initiated manually by yourself.

This new update will ensure that your website has the newest security patches, features, and enhanced performance and speed.

Now, we know the why? Let’s examine the how?.

How Do You Safely Update Your WordPress Website?

First, you’ve got to prepare for the upgrade. The most essential way to do that is to create a complete backup for your WordPress.

This is usually done automatically through the WordPress plugin, but it is necessary to ensure that you make a more recent backup and confirm that it is stored safely in a distant location.

For a WordPress backup to be complete, it should include everything from your WordPress Database, to your Core WordPress files.

This is a very vital step because it will enable you to bring back all your data if something should go wrong in the process of the upgrade. Once the backup has been created and safely stored, you can now begin the upgrade.

You can update your website to the newest version in two simple ways. It can be done Automatically and Manually.

AUTOMATICALLY.

This method comes highly recommended because it is quite easier to maneuver.

To begin, you are to sign into the admin space of your WordPress website and proceed to the Dashboard updates page. You will see a notification to show that there is recent WordPress update that is available.

All you are to do is click on the button that reads update now to get the update started. The software of the latest version will be gotten and installed by WordPress while you can monitor its progress as it appears on your screen.

While the update is in motion, your site will be put in maintenance mode by WordPress. Users will still be able to see your site, but you won’t be able to install themes or plugins while the update is going on.

MANUALLY.

This method is only recommended if the automatic process does not work for some reason. An FTP is needed for this method.

• Visit the WordPress download page to download the new WordPress version.
• It will be downloaded in a zip file.
• Extract the zip file to see a WordPress folder.
• Connect your FTP client to your website.
• Go to the WordPress folder gotten from your zip file in the local files column.
• Click on the site’s root folder, your WordPress files and folders are here.
• Select all the files, then right-click to choose upload.
• Select overwrite and always use this option.
• Go to the admin space and click the button that reads update WordPress database.
• The update is complete.

CONCERNED ABOUT UPDATING?

It is very important to upgrade your website, to make it very secure, and to boosts, its performance and speed, both of which will be very beneficial to you in the long run. If you are uncomfortable in the process and would like support in your website maintenance, get in touch with Circle City Digital! We offer website hosting services with maintenance so you can be as hands on or hands off as you’d like!